The teachers at Woodgrove Secondary School are not just prepping kids for tests, but for life’s ultimate pop quiz: working life.
The school offers a wide range of work attachment opportunities, thanks to close collaboration with the School Advisory Committee (SAC) and community partners, who come from a range of industries.
The Student Work Attachment Programme provides students with a better understanding of office operations, including intangibles such as workplace etiquette, social awareness, and relationship building, says Mr Christon Cher, Subject Head, Communications and Partnerships.
“Many of our SAC members had opportunities given to them in their early days and are happy to take the lead to pioneer such partnerships with the school to pay it forward.”
Mr Tan Boon Cheng, Vice Principal
The stints can last from four days to two weeks and take place in November. They are offered to students from secondary 3. Students typically go alone or in groups, depending on the number of openings available at each company.
“Many of our SAC members had opportunities given to them in their early days and are happy to take the lead to pioneer such partnerships with the school to pay it forward. They are more than willing to provide their platforms to support our students. The programme has expanded to partners beyond SAC.” says Vice Principal, Mr Tan Boon Cheng.
The SAC partners connect the school with appointed supervisors in their companies. Teachers introduce the school and the Programme’s objectives, and study the activities available at each workplace. They also update the partner company with information on the participating students, including their strengths and what they hope to gain from their work attachment. Teachers do not participate in student attachments but guide students in how to share their learning experiences with the school.
Adds Mr Cher, “These attachments often take place in professional settings that students wouldn’t typically access at their age, giving them unique insights into potential career paths.”
To prepare Secondary 3 students for these experiences, Secondary 4 students held sharing sessions where they discussed important skills, described their on-the-job tasks, and shared what they learnt. Interested students could then apply to join the Student Work Attachment Programme by submitting a video application. “It’s like a fun spin on a job interview,” quips Mr Cher.
“More often than not, students discover new strengths and either affirm their passions or identify new directions”
Mr Christon Cher, Subject Head, Communications and Partnerships
Ever since the relaunch of the programme since Covid-19 in 2022, it is already yielding positive results. Students are learning teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. Grace Khoo, who interned at Soda Lemon, a glass upcycling company, shares, “I was worried about messing up at first, but my supervisors were so understanding. I learnt that it’s okay to make mistakes – that’s how you grow.”
Throughout the students’ work attachments, teachers prompt them to reflect on their performance, and identify strengths that help them tackle assigned tasks.
“More often than not, students discover new strengths and either affirm their passions or identify new directions,” shares Mr Cher, highlighting the programme’s role in shaping the students’ future career paths.
Practising what employers look for
One example of the Programme’s impact comes from students Kuan Sze Suen and Valene Chia, who completed an attachment at iFLY Singapore, an indoor skydiving venue. They handled tasks ranging from safety briefings to guest interactions.
Reflecting on their experience, both realised how their classroom presentations had prepared them to interact confidently with tourists and locals. The CEO of iFLY Singapore, Mr Lawrence Koh, emphasises the importance of such experiences: “Being able to work well with others, share ideas, and contribute to a team’s success is highly valued in the workplace.” He adds, “These are skills that employers look for in potential candidates.”
Dialing up their research skills
Students Jamie Ong, Felicia Ding, and Reddi Ashvitha honed their research skills at telco Zero1. Its founder, Mr Tan Koon Stuart, says their tasks – conducting market analyses of competing telcos and using social media for sales – align with their business course aspirations at polytechnic. They also get to work with real-world data.
Exploring hidden passions
The Student Work Attachment Programme also helps students discover hidden talents and step out of their comfort zones. Andrew Oh and Kwong Yean Hung, both Media Club students, had eye-opening experiences at Brands for Good, a greenscreen technology and events company.
Andrew, accustomed to behind-the-scenes work, found himself in front of the camera: “While I’m more comfortable with video production, being on screen and interviewing people was an unexpected challenge I enjoyed.”
Yean Hung discovered unexpected passions. “A work assignment introduced me to advocacy work”, he says, such as to look into the needs of the elderly living in homes.
Creative skills meet corporate life
Other students found creative ways to flex skills they already had. Take Drama Club members and aspiring content creators Cheok Keng Dean and Shanice Ong, who put their acting chops to work at Food Empire producing TikTok videos to showcase the company’s food and beverage lineup.
Beyond their creative tasks, the duo had the opportunity to learn about effective meeting practices and collaboration. Food Empire Executive Chairman Mr Tan Wang Cheow noted, “We were delighted to have them with us – their youthful energy brought new life to our work. We look forward to seeing them thrive in their careers.”
